Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-19
WEST VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Notes Gathered From Hero and There o
the Political Current.


the Political Current.
That our party is on dangerous ground
is too plainly evidenced by the result OF
| the election in Jefferson county. Col.
/ Frank Beckwith is one of the most popular
men in that county; he was run rs the
| Democratic candidate to fill the vacancy in
/ the Legislature OcCaSioned by the appoint
ment OF Hon. ID. L. Lucas to the United
States Senate. The nomination was de-
/ signed rs an Endorsement Of Mr.. Lucas
course in the Legislature. Home pride,
/ local hOnOrs earnest workers, all combined
/ to make the Endorsement hearty one.
Yet in a county usually giving LOO or
| | POO majority, the Democratic candidate
| is elected by less than 400 majority; and
bad regular Democrat been found who
would take the same independent course
Mr.. Lucas took in the Legislature, and no
Republican candidate been in the field, he
would probably have been elected.
We call attention to this simply to show
| that an endorsement that disrupts the
party is not party Endorsement, and that
/ the best way out of bad road is patiently
/ to wait until we reach the grade, and then
the pleasure OF easy motion will greatly
tend to make us forget the jOltings OF the
past.-Soub Brunch htsHiyrHc,r.
The Legislature 0f West Virginia recon-
vencs on Wednesday next, April 10Th. To
| be candid, we must say that the prvpOn-
derance Of sentiment throughout the State
seems to he in favor of eleCtiug United
| States Senator ut the called session. There
are many who would prefer that the Gov
errors appOintee should hold over until
after the next Legislature is elected, cSpec-
tally in view of the inexpediency of re
opening ut this time this disturbing ques-
ton; but it seems plain that there are
reasonable grounds for doubling that Mr..
Lucas would BE- admitted to n seat i'll the
| United States Senate by that body, should
/ the Legislature fail to elect The Senate
has on previous occasions shown itself dis
inclined to admit To membership the Gov
ernOI's appointee when the appointment
WAS made under the circumstances sur
rounding this case; and ~ long ~ this
doubt exists, il is urged that it is the duty
of our Legislature to take reasonable pre-
cautions against the danger of the State
losing half the representation which 1t Is
entitled To in the Federal Senate for the
next two years.-HOHrOr UdtrhmHH.
Let us hope that the bOlting Democrats
are not 50 hOpeleSSly committed To their
leaders personal fortunes as to lesc all
sight of the interests of the party To which
they owe allegiance, and Ia the people
whose political representatives they are
supposed To he. The duty resting upon
every Democratic member OF the Legisla-
ture To cooperate in the election OF some
1 L IL a., h.. ITy,sf G.,
ate ut the coming session isSo manifest that
those who refuse To do it certainly cannot
wish To- De longer regarded rs adhercnts of
the party or supporters of the Democratic
ith.-FdiTmOm IRder.
Referring TO the question of voting for n
Senator ut the special session Of the Legis-
lature, it is wonderful to note how rabid
and persistent the Republican papers Ofthe
State have become ~ the advocates OF the
played out doctrine OF States rights. They
| howl with agony ut the suggestion of the
State constitution being made. subServient
to that OF the general government. Had the
editors of these papers worn fighting
clothes from 81 to 90, they probably
would have been officers in jeff Davis body
guard -PTkGSbUg Sentinel.
We have never denied that there were
certain persOns-in fact, certain communi-
ties opposed to the reelection OF Mr.. Cam
den, and that Jefferson county could he
reCkoned among the communities and Col.
Beckwith among the persons. The election
has indicated nothing more nor less than
that Mr.. Lucas has carried his county in a
very tame and unintereSting election. 1t
would have given him very black eye if
he had not.
Why should there he 50 much said about
Lucas success and Camden 5 defeat ifwhat
the Wilson, Lucas people assert is true ?
They say there can be no election Of
United States Senator. II this be true,
the question of Camden or anti-Camden
does not cut any figure whatever; and when
Senators are chosen two years hence Mr..
Beckwith's term will have expired. The
fight, therefore, which entered into the
Jefferson county election was not Camden
OF anti-Camden, but Senator or no Senator,
election or no election, Lucas OF somebody
elsa fight of life and death of Mr.. Lucas
for position he holds 10y the will Of one
man, but which he could never hold by
the will of many.-GrseRbriCr Independent.